NEWS
We are Committed to Providing Qualitative Healthcare in FCT –Mahmoud
Dr Mariya Mahmoud, the FCT Minister of State, has said that the administration is committed in giving residents qualitative healthcare services under the newly inaugurated “Renewed Hope Medical Mission”.Mahmoud said this on Friday during the flagg-off of the medical outreach in Bwari area council of the FCT.
She said that the aim of the medical mission was to provide comprehensive healthcare services to underserved communities in the FCT. The Minister added that the enlarged programme also seeks to address the critical health challenges faced by vulnerable populations, particularly in areas with high maternal and child morbidity and mortality rates.She noted that Nigeria was one of the countries with high maternal death, child morbidity and mortality.She said that the situation resulted from poor Ante-Natal Care (ANC) attendance, low uptake of immunisation and family planning services.Mahmoud said that rapid population expansion leading to increased demand for health services had posed serious health challenges to the FCT administration hence the need to take seriously the medical needs of the people.She stressed the FCT administration’s commitment to improving the primary healthcare system, by renovation, upgrading and building of more health centers across the six area councils.The Minister said that the administration was also committed to employing more healthcare workers.She used the occasion to speak on the danger signs in pregnancy, importance of ANC attendance, exclusive breast feeding, and importance of immunisation in preventing childhood diseases.Mahmoud listed some of the diseases that could be prevented as polio, TB, pneumonia, pertussis, diphtheria, measles, and importance of screening for HIV, Diabetes, Hypertension, and others.Also speaking, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, the Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, said that despite recent improvements in access to quality healthcare for residents of the FCT, many communities remained underserved.She said that the FCT administration recognised the need for a comprehensive approach to healthcare, that addresses the root causes of healthcare challenges and provides sustainable solutions.Fasawe said that the Renewed Hope Medical Mission had several objectives.“They include providing comprehensive healthcare services, raising awareness about the importance of healthcare, investing in healthcare infrastructure, and reducing maternal and child mortality rates.“The Renewed Hope Medical Mission is a multi-faceted programme that employs a range of strategies to achieve its objectives.“These include mobile health clinics, a health insurance scheme, infrastructure development, and health education.“It has several benefits, including improved access to healthcare services, reduced maternal and child mortality rates, increased health awareness, and investment in healthcare infrastructure,” he said.He said that the programme was a comprehensive approach to healthcare, addressing the critical health challenges faced by underserved communities in Abuja.“By providing comprehensive healthcare services, investing in healthcare infrastructure, and promoting health awareness, the programme contributes to reducing maternal and child mortality rates“It also iimproves access to quality healthcare services.“Free medical missions are global best ppractices used to provide targeted medical and surgical care to meet the health needs of the underserved and vulnerable populations.“As the pprogramme ontinues to expand, it is clear that the Renewed Hope Medical Mission will remain a beacon of hope for underserved communities in Abuja,” Fasawe said.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that more than 3000 residents of Bwari community were provided with free healthcare services in different, like sickle cell screening and blood test.Others are antenactal, general medical checkup, dental care, minor surgeries, nutrition and food, free HIV screning/Counseling and others. (NANNEWS
They Planted Juju in my Jacket at Davido’s House – Peruzzi
Singer Peruzzi has narrated how a charm was planted in his jacket during his stay at Davido’s house.
Peruzzi was signed to Davido’s record label, DMW, in 2017.
Davido dissolved the label in April 2024.
However, discussing his experience during his stay at Davido’s house, Peruzzi narrated how a charm was planted in his jacket.
Speaking in a video interview online, he said, “I took a shower one evening, like at 6 pm. Just a shower and then went to go and meet them back downstairs because I was chilling there before I went upstairs in David house when I was still living there.
“And then I was done taking the shower. I go to my wardrobe to get my clothes, and then one of my jackets is just telling me, ‘Pull me, wear me, wear me, wear me.’ I don’t know how to explain it, but I was just having the urge to wear it.”So, I carry am (the jacket), and something just dropped inside, and when I looked, it was jaz, better juju inside my room. A jacket that just came from the laundry.”
NEWS
AFSNET Business Conference Kicks off in Calabar
From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
The 6th African sub – sovereign Governments Network Investment Conference has started in Calabar the cross river state capital as Afreximbank opens a $2 billion tap for Cross River State and other African sub-sovereign governments for the financing of bankable projects that can turn around their economies.
Making the disclosure in Calabar in a press briefing, The Director, Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, Afreximbank, Dr.
Gainmore Zanamwe, said the 6th African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network Investment Conference (AfSNET 2026) is going to be a three day event, running from Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th November, 2026.Dr Zanamwe stated that, the Bank has the facility ready to finance. According to him, “Some people say funding is a problem. From Africa we say no. The $2 billion is there,” Zanamwe said. “Go and tell your people. You people in the media, go and tell people that money is there,” stressing that the bank is fully prepared to spend the next three days, November 12, 13 and 14, in Calabar enlightening states on how to access the fund. “How do you then access the funding? He asked.
“That is what we’ll be telling everybody in the course of the next three days. We’ll be showing you how you can tap into the $2 billion to do your projects. We’ll make it very simple.” He maintained.
Zanamwe stated that only states that present properly packaged, bankable projects will benefit. “We’ll start tomorrow with a training on how to identify projects in your states. Some normally start by saying there’s a project in this, they then run to the investors. It doesn’t work that way. We’ll be breaking it down,” he said.
“We would like, under the leadership of your Governor, to be able to start from the vision and say this is the vision in terms of promoting trade investment in your states. Once you start from that big vision, you cannot do everything. You need to focus. Identify two or three sectors that you really need to focus on and promote,” he added.
He explained that capital can be raised in two ways: by preparing a project and making it bankable for financial institutions like Afreximbank, or by preparing a pitch deck to generate interest from potential investors.
He also promoted Africa Direct Investment, saying an investor from Lagos or South Africa can as well enjoy the same privileges and incentives given to an investor from America.
He stressed that governors will pitch their projects on November 13 and 14, adding that in the last five years, the initiative has facilitated opportunities worth more than $3 billion, trained over 2,000 people, and worked with 21 African countries.
Also speaking on behalf of Governor Bassey Otu, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, welcomed investors to the state.
“With Cross River State’s agrarian economy being rejuvenated by this administration, for the first time a very deliberate attempt is being taken to be able to make sure that our diverse products are being properly processed to meet international standards,” Cobham said.
NEWS
RMAFC Advocates Fair Share of 13 Per Cent Revenue Derivation Among Oil Producing States
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has advocated a fair distribution of the 13 per cent derivation revenue among states that produce oil and gas.
The Chairman of the commission, Mohammed Shehu, made the appeal on Thursday in Owerri during the inauguration of an oil and gas wells verification exercise.
Shehu explained that the commission’s constitutional responsibilities under the 1999 Constitution, as amended, include monitoring revenue generated into and disbursed from the Federation Account, including funds allocated under the 13 per cent derivation arrangement.
He said the exercise would focus on identifying and confirming the geographical coordinates of disputed oil and gas wells, alongside newly drilled wells between 2017 and 2026.
According to him, an Inter-Agency Technical Committee established for the assignment would carry out physical inspections of the affected wells, verify their locations and ensure that their coordinates were accurately recorded using officially approved maps.
He added that the committee would also take relevant court judgments into consideration when addressing disputes involving oil and gas well locations.
Shehu said the committee would forward its technical findings directly to the commission for review, ratification and eventual adoption.
He described the verification exercise as essential to ensuring that revenue allocations from the Federation Account are accurate and fairly distributed, explaining that the geographical positions of oil and gas wells determine the financial entitlements of producing states.
“This exercise represents a crucial phase in establishing statutory accuracy, technical fidelity, and fiscal equity within the Federation Account allocation framework,” he said.
He further explained that the precise coordinates and geographical positions of oil and gas wells have direct implications for the legal and financial rights of the respective states.
The RMAFC chairman urged officials participating in the exercise to adhere strictly to professional surveying procedures, recognised maps and relevant legal requirements in carrying out their assignments.
He reiterated that the technical committee’s report would be submitted solely to the commission for administrative review and formal approval.


